Welcome to the Hospitality Junior Board…
“Reflecting the real face of hospitality”
We’re a growing community – a mix of young people and the people who show up for them. The ones who cheer them on, lift them up, and help them find their way. Together, we’re here to support them, encourage them, and help them succeed in whatever success means to them.
We are trying to do something a little different, something softer, something slower, but something no less important or productive. Something we believe is missing and is very much needed.
We aren’t fuelled by growth, transformation, leadership trends, or complicated theories.
We are building a movement – one rooted in friendship and kindness, fuelled by peer-to-peer discussion, and driven by a shared belief in hospitality as a force for good.
Our Mission
….a place to start, grow, belong, and discover yourself
Our mission is to support, nurture, and encourage young people at the start of their hospitality journey, whether they’re stepping into the sector for a job, trying it out to get started, or discovering a career they never expected to love.
We’re here to build confidence, grow future leaders, and create a kinder, more supportive community where young people can find their place and thrive.
We champion their potential, seek to influence the people who shape the industry, and open doors for those who may never have considered hospitality at all.
Above all, we exist to help young people feel seen, valued, and excited about what their future in hospitality could be – whatever that future looks like for them.
Our Objectives
We’re guided by five core objectives. Each one shapes our decisions, keeps us focused, and helps us prioritise what matters most. Together, they form a framework that drives progress toward our mission – ensuring every action we take is purposeful, aligned, and impactful.
To build a supportive community
– Young people thrive when they feel seen, heard, and backed by peers who seek to understand
– A lasting network, where emerging leaders invest in each other, celebrate wins, navigate setbacks, and grow together
– It’s about belonging to something….
To identify future leaders
– We look for potential, lived experience, and the spark of initiative that often goes unnoticed
– Our programme creates space for young people to be seen, heard, and grow in confidence
– We identify future leaders early and surround them with the right support
To build skills that matter
– We embed kindness, curiosity, and creativity into daily practice, driving performance
– Resilience grows through shared challenges and honest reflection, inspiration comes from peer stories and breakthrough moments
– We encourage communication, helping young people lead with empathy, listen deeply, and find their voice
To promote the sector
– It’s more than a career path, it’s the heart of communities, a driver of wellbeing, and a cornerstone of regional economies
– Hospitality protects cultural assets, sustains local supply chains, and fosters creativity, connection, and care
To influence
– We are leading that charge, reframing hospitality not as a fallback, but as a career full opportunity, creativity, and purpose
– We showcase real stories of growth, leadership, and impact – proving what we say
– Through compelling stories, insights, and young people led advocacy, we’re shifting mindsets
Meet the Current Cohort
Chloe Heselton
I am eager to join the Hospitality Junior Board as I am passionate about collaborating with other young professionals from the York area. I look forward to learning from their experiences, sharing insights from my own career, and working together to make a meaningful contribution to our local community.
Charlotte Hansell
I am excited to be joining the junior hospitality board as a way to build my confidence, meet others who share my enthusiasm for the industry and continue growing both personally and professionally. I look forward to contributing to the board and learning from the diverse perspectives of fellow members.
Emily Wilson
Bhwana Rai
I would love to be a part of the junior board as there are many new skills, new knowledge about this sector I haven’t come across before, which will help me a lot in the future to continue my love and passion for hospitality.
Beth Prideaux
Freya Robinson
I was keen to learn everything and anything there was to know about the spa and hospitality industry and quickly fell in love with what we were trying to achieve as a business.
I have grown up in Rudding Park Spa and am now the Spa Front Office Manager. Now that I have been given the opportunity to join the Hospitality Junior Board, I have wanted to do this a while to meet people in the same boat and learn from their experiences whilst telling my own.
Haydon Bayliss
Outside of work I enjoy going to the gym and spending time with my friends usually at a coffee shop.
What I enjoy most about hospitality is the opportunity to meet so many interesting people from all over the world.
Freddie Durance
Freddie Marshall
Having now been at The Grand for over two years, I’ve realised that this job allows me to make people’s day—every day—which I absolutely love. It’s what makes me enjoy coming into work and why I’m excited to build a career in this industry.
Outside of work, I enjoy exercising, travelling, and socialising. I’m always keen to learn new things and try out different experiences.
Our Stories
Hear our Hospitality Junior Board members stories. Just click on their photo below to get started.
Joining the Hospitality Junior Board has pushed me to do things I have never done for example attending a board meeting was exciting but completely unknown! It has helped me to connect and learn from people in a similar position. Having a mentor has also been massively beneficial for myself, they helped me understand my management techniques, and leadership skills, whilst pushing me to do more. It’s been fantastic to be a part of something so different and inspiring!
Being part of the York & North Yorkshire Hospitality Junior Board has been an incredibly enriching experience, providing me with invaluable networking opportunities and allowing me to connect with professionals across the hospitality industry. Through the board, I've gained a deeper understanding of how various hospitality businesses operate, highlighting the remarkable diversity within our industry. This role has also challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, particularly through interviewing industry leaders for our podcast 'Let Me Call My Manager'. These experiences have collectively broadened my perspective and enhanced my professional growth
Being a part of the Hospitality Junior Board these past 6 months has been so beneficial to my career. I have built a new network of people, learned from fellow board members, received fantastic mentor sessions, grown my confidence and developed my resilience.
"Thank you also for yesterday, I had a fantastic day meeting back up with everybody at HJB and the session was brilliant. Weirdly enough I seem to be finding myself at work going through challenges the month leading up to the HJB monthly meeting and then finding we speak about an area which resonates with all these challenges in that month’s meeting helping me find clarity and new approaches to deal with these issues I’m facing. So a huge thank you for this…!"
"Truly a great Board to be part of! After only our first 3 months I have learnt so much as well as met some life long friends. So many opportunities presented to me and my confidence has grown rapidly…"
Our Partners
